Primary battery.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

0. E. HITE PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1906.

2 SHEETF-SHBET l.

w 2M0 New PATENTED APR. 23

C, B. HITE,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 circuitwork. '35 3 is-a longitudinal vertical sectionof a unrrn r CHARLES E. HITE, or BURLINGTON QTATES FATE N JERSEY,ASSIGN,

It OF ONE- FOURTH TO THOMAS J. BYRNE, QFE;...QH 1L ADELPHIA,PENitsYLvANiA.

PmmARY ATTE'Rv.

No. senses.

Specification of Let as "Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed May 17,1906. Serial No. 317,300.

l for the active surfaces of electrode couples My invention comprisesimproved means forprotecting the surfaces of the electrodes which shouldbe inactive.

invention comprises improved means go fork'ymtroducing the electrolyteinto a plu- 1 a ty of cells from a common reservoir, and fordischargingthe electrolyte from said plu rality of cells back to a commonreservoir.

} My invention comprises improved means 2,5 for causing the separationof the residue of electrolyte contained in a common reservoir I into aplurality of bodies corresponding to the several cells so as tointerrupt electrical connection thpengh the electrolytebetween 13oonecell and another.

Referring to the drawings:Figure 1 is a "longitudinal vertical sectionofa battery comprising my invention, suitable for open Fig. 2 is a planview of same.

batte 1 com ris' m invention, suitable for closed circn wdih. 153 4. isa plan view of same.

. Similar numerals refer to similar parts "do throughout the severalviews.

, My improved battery comprises a single receptacle in the form of a box3, made either of insulating material or having an intemor surface ofsuitable insulatin material. Hardrubber or cast iron enamelled, areexamples cf suitable materials.

The" battery illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is .anopencircuit battery inwhiclrfor exam-' -ple,;-ammonium chloride is used in connecvthe rwithzinc and carbon electrodes. The rbox orreceptacle 3 has its inner wallsand bottom provided with the. ribs 6. The carbonelectrodes 8 have theirwalls channelled.- to receive said ribs 6. Said electrodesS aresealedwiththe ribs .6 or the adjacent walls offfihe receptacle 3 bysuitable insoluble non- -tions forniin the several cells 9..

simply a modification of the projection and.

Figs. 1 and 2.

conducting material such as pitchfre'sin or alkaline proof varnish, andeach carb onelectrode 8 is coated upon one side with a similar material.This coating 11 of insoluble nonconducting material u onone side of eachelectrode 8 forms an e cient non-conducting partition between adjacentcells or compartments 9. This coating 11 is ordinarily a thin .film ofmaterial not self-supporting. The

carbon upon which it is placed serves asa support therefor; whilewithres ect to its exposed face each carbon 8 is tie electronegativeelectrode of the couple in which the zinc electrode 10 is theelectro-positive. These zinc electrodes 10 may be secured to the fixedcarbon electrodes by the bolts 13 as shown in the drawings, or in anyother suitable way. Thesezinc electrodes 10 may either be in the form ofrods or fiat lates as shown inthe drawings. \Vhere t ey are in the formof flat plates I likewise provide their inactive sides wth a coating 12of similar insoluble non-conducting material so that said solubleelectrode has one active surface only,

which is directed toward the active surface" of the next succeedingcarbon electrode p In Figs. 3 and 4 is illustrated a closed circuitbattery in whiclnfor example, an electrolyte of chromic acid is used inconnection with zinc and carbon electrodes. Referrin to said Figs. 3 and4 the box 3 is provide with a horizontal partition 4 dividing the boxinto two separate compartments 5 and15. The partition 4 is integralwith, or sealed aroundvits four sides to, the four sides of the box. Theupper compartment 5 has its side walls, and partition4, forming thebottomof compartment 5, provided with the channels 7. in the channels 7are properly seated the electrodes 8, such for example as carbon plates.channels and constitute liquid tight parti- This is channel means forsecuring the electrodes in position as described in connection with Fromeach cell 9 extends a channel 14 to near the bottom of the coinpartment15. This channel may be formed either by a tube sealed with andextending through the partition 1, or may be formedm the walls of box 3around said partition- 1. Atthe bottom of compartment 15 are-pro-Wdil'id a series of comparatively low, part These electrodes are sealedinthe time 16, corresponding in number and posrtionito the partitions 8of compartmentfi ment by hand-pump 17, or other suitable means, theelectrolyte is forced up through channels 14 into the cells 9.- As soonhowever, as the electrolyte reaches a level in compartment 15 below thetops of partitions 16, it is separated into several bodies correspondingin number to the cells 9, thus preventing any electrical connectionthrough the common electrolyte between said cells 9; The hand-cock 18 isadapted to control the introduction of air to, and escape of air fromcompartment 15, that is, its chief purpose is to prevent the leak of airthrough the pump 17, while it is desired to maintain the battery in theactive position. The cock 19 is adapted to permit the immediate escapeof air from compartment 15 when it is desired to discharge theelectrolyte from the cells. The. binding posts 20 and 21 are secured inthe usual way tothe terminal electrodes of opposite polarity. The liningfor the box 3 composed of enamel or other insoluble nonconductingmaterial is indicated at 22.

I What I claim is 1 In a primary battery, the combination of areceptacle, a plurality of partition-supporting electrodes dividin thereceptacle into a plurality of compartments or cells, one of saidelectrodes only being placed between each pair of cells divided thereby.

2. In a primary battery, the combination of a receptacle, a plurality ofpartition-supporting electrodes dividing the receptacle into a pluralityof compartments or cells, said artitions consisting of a coating ofinsolub e non-conducting material. upon one side of each electrode, oneof said electrodes only being placed between each pair of cells dividedthereby. 3. Ina primary battery, the-combination of a receptacle, aplurality of electrode plates secured in said receptacle and dividingthe rece tacle into compartments, a coating of inso uble non-conductingmaterial upon one side of. each of said electrodes extending to thesides and bottom of the receptacle adjacent the edges of the electrodesforming said compartments into liquid tight cells.

4. In a primary battery, the combination of a receptacle, a single filmof insoluble nonconducting material forming av partition dividing thereceptacle into cells and an electrode supporting said partition.

5. In a primary battery, the combination of areceptacle, a plurality ofpartition-supporting electrodes dividing the receptacle into a pluralityof compartments or cells, and electrodes of opposite polarity projectinginto said cells and connected with said partition-supporting electrodes,one of said par tition-supporting electrodes only being placed betweeneach pair of cells divided thereby. s

6. In a primary battery, the combination of a receptacle, a plurality ofpartition sup porting electrodes dividing the receptacle into aplurality of compartments or cells, and

electrodes of opposite polarity connected with and supported by saidpartition'supporting electrodes.

7. In a primary ed therein by means of grooves, a coating of insolublenon-conducting material covering one side of each of said electrodes andextending to the sides and bottom of the receptacle battery, thecombination. of a receptacle, a plurality of electrodes seat.

adjacent the edges of the electrodes to form liquid tight partitionsbetween a plurality of cells.

8. In a primary battery, the combination of a receptacle, a plurality ofpartition supporting electrodes dividing the receptacle into a pluralityof'compart'ments or cells, and electrodes of opposite polarityprojecting into said cells and connected with said partition-supportingelectrodes, said electrodes coated on all sides except their activesides with insoluble non conducting material.

9. A primary battery, comprisinga plurality of cells, a reservoircontaining common electrolyte, means for transferring the major portionof the electrolyte from the reservoir to the cells and means for causingthe separation of the residue of electrolyte contained in the reservoirinto a number of separate bodies corresponding to the number of cells toprevent electrical communication, through-* the electrolyte, betweensaid cells.

10. A primary battery, comprising a plurality of cells, a reservoircontaining common electrolyte, air pressure controlled means fortransferring the major portion of the electrolyte from the reservoir tothe cells and means for causing the separation of the residue ofelectrolyte contained in the reservoir into a number of separate bodiescorresponding to the number of cells to prevent electricalcommunication, through the electrolyte, between said cells. a

11. In a primary battery, the combination of a plurality of cells, acommon reservoir. for containing electrolyte having communication-withsaid cells, means for causing the electrolyte to rise in the cells -fromthe common reservoir, a plurality of partitions in said reservoir forseparating the residue of electrolyte contained therein, into a numberof separate bodies when the greater part of electrolyte has risen in thecells.

12. In a primary battery, the combination of a plurality of cells, areservoir for electrolyte common to all the cells, channels leading fromthe cells to near the bottom of the reservoir, said. channels adapted tobe trapped by the residue of the electrolyte in the reservoir when thecells are in action, and means for separatin said residue of electrolyteinto a number oii bodies corresponding to the number of channels trappedtherebv Int batteryythe combina- -,1 1on of a 'plurality' of. cells, areservoir for c trapped byt e residue of the electrolyte in means forseparatin said residue of electro Bl e,1ntoa number 0 bodiescorresponding to means for compressing theaair'in the reser- "voirclramber to cause the electrolyte to rise through the channels into thecells, and

t 6 number of channels trapped thereby.

Lit-

" 14."In'avprimary battery, the combination of a receptacle, a pluralityof partition J I supporting electrodes dividing. the. receptacle into aplurality of compartments or cells, a

reservoir containing a common electrolyte, means forconveying the majorportion of the electrolytefrom the reservoir to the cells and means forcausingi due of the electro V011. into a number of separate bodiescorrethe' separation of the resispondin to, the number of cells toprevent electrics, communication through the electrolyte between saidcells. the reservoir whenthecells are in action,

.'15. In a primary battery, the combination oi: a'recept'acle, agalvanic couple, one

element of which supports a 'coatin of insoluble non-conductingmaterialwhic forms a partition between two cellein'ssiid receptacle, anelectro positive electrode andan electro-ne tive electrode forming theterminals of the attery, the said alvanic couple being f? terminalelectrodes. 3 5

interposed between sai I CHARLES E.,HITE.

\ Witnesses:

" EUGENE ZIEGLER,

MAE HoFMANN.

yte contained in the reser-

